This breathing trick is said to help you fall asleep in one minute

If you’ve counted sheep, slathered yourself in lavender oil, shut off all electronics and you still can’t nod off, you need to try this breathing exercise.

It’s called the 4-7-8 breathing method, pioneered by US sleep expert Dr Andrew Weil, and it’s said to have you asleep in one minute flat.

It’s based on the ancient Indian practice of pranayama, which means “regulation of breath” and Weil describes it as “a natural tranquilizer for the nervous system”.

“Breathing strongly influences physiology and thought processes, including moods. By simply focusing your attention on your breathing and without doing anything to change it, you can move in the direction of relaxation,” he writes on his website.